Flame-adjuster of gas cigarette-lighter

ABSTRACT

In a gas cigarette-lighter a device for adjusting the flame is provided in the form of spaced resilient lugs projecting from the bottom of the well formed at the upper portion of the gas reservoir constituting the body of the cigarette-lighter, said lugs being disposed concentrically at spaced angular intervals about the axis of the bore connecting the bottom of said well to the inner space of the reservoir. A tapered seat member movable within said well under the control of the valve body is adapted to cap said lugs and move same more or less towards one another thus modifying accordingly the cross-sectional passage for the gas and therefore the gas output.

United States Patent [151 3,695,819 Tricot [451 Oct. 3, 1972 F LAME-ADJUSTER OF GAS Primary ExaminerCarroll B. Dority, Jr.

CIGARETTE-LIGHTER Attorney-Waters, Roditi, Schwartz & Nissen 72 Inventor: Jean Gaston Tricot, 53, Rue du Val i dOshe, Saint Maurice, France ABSTRACT [22] Fil d; J 8, 1971 In a gas cigarette-lighter a device for adjusting the 211 App]. No.: 104,926

Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 2, 1970 7 Great Britain ..7004384/70 3,083,554 4/1963 lketani ..222/3X flame is provided in the form of spaced resilient lugs projecting from the bottom of the well formed at the upper portion of the gas reservoir constituting the body of the cigarette-lighter, said lugs being disposed concentrically at spaced angular intervals about the axis of the bore connecting the bottom of said well to the inner space of the reservoir. A tapered seat memberrmovable within said well under the control of the valve body is adapted to cap said lugs and move same more or less towards one another thus modifying accordingly the cross-sectional passage for the gas and therefore the gas output.

6 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures SHEET 1 [1F 2 PATENTEDncI 3 I972 SHEET 2 OF 2 FIGKIO FLAME-ADJUSTER or GAS CIGARETTE- LIGHTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to gas cigarette-lighters and has specific reference to a device for adjusting the flame of a cigarette-lighter of this character.

This flame adjuster is of the typewherein the valve body is screwed in a well formed in the upper portion of the gas reservoir constituting in certain cases the body orshell of the cigarette-lighter, and wherein the bottom of said well communicates with the inner space of said reservoir through an axial bore adapted to receive at least locally a wick dipping into said reservoir.

Known designs of gas cigarette-lighters are provided not only with a valve controlling the opening and closing of the gas output but alsowith a device permitting of regulating this output in order to adapt the length or height of the flame according to needs.

As a rule, the device provided for adjusting the gas output consists of a plurality of disks of porous and compressible material disposed between the bottom of said well and the valve body, other means bearing on said disks permitting of modifying at will the degree of compression of said disks. Thus, the greater the compressive effort exerted on said disks, the smaller the gas output. However, these known means are objectionable in that they introduce an additional complication in the lighter assembling operation.

In certain known arrangements this gas throttling action is obtained by locally squeezing the gas delivery tube in order to reduce its cross-sectional passage area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device providing the same result but through the use of means simplifying considerably the construction and assembling of gas cigarette-lighters.

This device comprises in combination on the one hand resilient lugs projecting upwards from the bottom of the well, which are disposed at spaced intervals about the axial bore opening into said well bottom and, on the other hand, a tapered seat adapted'to be moved in the axial direction within said well by means of the valve body to which said seat is connected at least for translation, so as to cap said resilient lugs and move same towards one another in order to modify accordingly the cross-sectional passage left for the gas and, therefore, the gas output. I

Thus, it is clear that by screwing said valve in or out in relation to the reservoir the user can modify atwill the gas output and consequently the length of the flame produced by the cigarette-lighter.

Preferably, said resilient lugsare connected :at their root to a common barrel .and separated from one another by radial slots formed at spaced angular intervals.

According to a first form of embodiment of. this invention, the aforesaid resilient lugs have in :cross-section and throughout their height the shape of a sector of an annulus and form together a cylindrical central cavity adapted to receive the upper end of the wick in order to regulate the gaseous flow by more'or less throttling said wick.

With this arrangement the vertical displacement of the valve body in relation to the reservoir causes said resilient lugs to either move towards one another under the clamping action of said tapered seat so as to reduce the gas output, or move resiliently away from one another so as to increase said output.

It may be noted that this flame adjuster is effective to impart through said tapered seat a radial movement with a certain step-down or demultiplying effect to said resilient lugs, when a longitudinal movement of translation is applied to said seat.

In a modified form of embodiment of this invention, said resilient lugs have in cross-section, throughout their height, the shape of a circular sector disposed coaxially to a capillary orifice through the upper bottom of the bore receiving the upper end of the wick and permitting the passage of the gas escaping from said wick, whereby the gaseous output and therefore the flame of the cigarette-lighter are adjusted by changing the conditions of flow of the gaseous fluid through the passages formed by said resilient lugs.

With this arrangement, the movement of the resilient lugs towards one another as a consequence of the lowering of the tapered seat capping them is not attended by any change in the dimension of the upper end of said wick, the only change thus produced concerning the conditions of flow of the gaseous fluid passing through the capillary orifice and directed towards the burner, when of course the valve is open.

In a modified form of embodiment the resilient lugs have in cross-section and through the major part of their height the shape of a sector of an annulus, and at their upper portion the shape of a circular sector in order to form a cylindrical recess which, by constituting an extension of the cavity receiving said wick, is adapted to receive the upper end of said wick and is bounded at its upper end by a kind of shoulder consisting of the innermost portions of the circular-sector shaped portions of the resilient iugs forming at this level a passage whereby the adjustment of the gaseous output which results from the relative movements of said lugs is due on theone hand to the more or less accentuated throttling of the upper end of the wick and on the other hand to a modification in the gas flow conditions obtaining through said passage.

This invention will be better understood from the followingdescription given with reference to the accom-- panying drawings illustrating diagrammatically by way of example various forms of embodiment of the device according to this invention foradjusting the flame of a gas cigarette-lighter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS .2 of FIG. 4 thewell in which the device of FIG. 1 is screwed, with the resilient lugs in their inoperative positions;

FIG. 3 is aperspective view showing on a considerably larger scale the resilient lugs of this first form of embodiment of the device;

FIG. 4 is a plane view from above of the well shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. to 8 are views similar to FIGS. 1 to 4, respectively, but in connection with'a different form of embodiment of this device;

FIGS. 9 to 12 are views similar to FIGS. 1 to 4, respectively, in connection with a third form of embodiment of this device for regulating the gaseous output of a cigarette-lighter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In a manner known per se a gas cigarette-lighter comprises a reservoir 2 having at its upper portion a well 3 in which a valve body 4 is screwed. Mounted in this valve body 4 is a valve proper 5 comprising a burner-forming upper end 6 and carrying at its inner or lower end a gasket 7 constantly urged by a coil compression spring 9 against a seat 8.

According to this invention, resilient lugs 10 project from the bottom of said well 3 and co-operate with a tapered seat member 11 for adjusting the gaseous output. These lugs 10, as shown more in detail in FIG. 3, are connected at their root to a common base 10a and separated from one another by radial slots 12 disposed at 90 degree intervals and of a width decreasing gradually from the top to said base 10a.

According to a first form of embodiment, each lug 10 has in cross-section the shape of a sector of an annulus and comprises at its portion of smaller radius a cylindrical surface 13.

The cylindrical surfaces 13 of said lugs 10 form together a circular recess 14 disposed coaxially to, and constituting an extension of, a bore 15 connecting the inner space of well 3 to the inner space of reservoir 2. This bore 15 is adapted to receive the upper end of a wick 16.

The tapered seat 11 is formed directly in the rear portion of the valve body 4, as shown in detail in FIG. 1. Of course, this tapered seat member 11 is so designed that its portion of major diameter lies at the innermost end of valve body 4.

Before the assembling operation the resilient lugs 10 are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the well, as shown in FIG. 2. On the other hand, as the valve body 4 is screwed in well 3, said tapered seat member 11 bears against said lugs 10 and cause same to move gradually towards one another, thus producing a clamping action on the upper end of wick 16 and a consequent reduction in the diameter thereof. Since the reduction in the diameter of the upper end of wick 16 is attended by a reduction in the gaseous output delivered to the burner 6, when the valve 5 is open, it is clear that the length of the flame issuing from this burner can be modified by simply screwing in or out the valve body 4 in said well 3. It may also be noted that the resilient lugs 10 have an inherent resiliency due to the fact that they are made like the whole or part of reservoir 2 from relatively elastic synthetic material. On the other hand the valve body 4 is conventionally made of metal in order to warrant a longer useful life of the tapered seat member 1 1.

In another form of embodiment of this invention, illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 8 inclusive, the bore 15 is closed at its upper end by a bottom 17 through which a capillary orifice l8 coaxial to the bore 15 and having a diameter of the order of 0.004 inches is formed. This device further differs from the preceding one in that the resilient lugs have in cross-section, as shown in FIG. 7, the general configuration of circular sectors and that, in other words, they comprise not a cylindrical surface 13 but a longitudinal edge19. I

Thus, the screwing of the valve body 4 in or out of the well 3 and therefore the radial movement of the resilient lugs 10 towards or away from the valve axis are not attended by a change in the diameter of the upper end of the wick 16; the result of this movement is a modification in the flow conditions of the gaseous fluid escaping from said orifice 18 along the edges 19.

According to a different form of embodiment of this invention and as illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 12 of the drawings, the resilient lugs 10 are so designed as to permit the adjustment of the gaseous flow or output by acting both on the end of wick l6, and on the flow conditions of said gaseous fluid. To this end, as shown more particularly in FIGS. 10 and 11, each longitudinal lug 10 has on the major portion of its height a cross-section having the shape of a sector of an annulus, in that it comprises a cylindrical face 13 and only at its. upper end a circular sector configuration in cross-section, so as to provide a beak 20. The cylindrical faces 13 will thus provide a cylindrical cavity 14 coaxial and in direct alignment with the bore 15 connecting the inner space of well 3 to the inner space of the reservoir, for receiving the wick 16. This cylindrical cavity 14 is partially closed at its upper end by the aforesaid beaks 20 formed at the ends of lugs 10. As a result, when these lugs are moved towards one another they not only reduce the diameter of the upper end of wick 16 but also change the condition of flow of the gaseous fluid between said edges 19 and beaks 20.

Of course, various modifications and variations may be applied to the: specific forms of embodiment of the present invention which are shown and described therein, without inasmuch departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Whatl claim as new is:

1. Device for adjusting the flame of a gas cigarettelighter of the type comprising a valve body screwed in a well formed at the upper portion of a gas reservoir constituting for example the body of the cigarette-lighter, in which the bottom of said well communicates with the inner space of said reservoir through a bore having, at least locally, a wick dipping in said reservoir, wherein said device comprises in combination on the one hand resilient lugs projecting from the bottom of said well and disposed concentrically and at spaced angular intervals about the axis of the bore connecting the bottom of said well to the inner space of said reservoir, and on the other hand a tapered seat member adapted to be moved longitudinally within said well by means of the valve body to which it is connected at least for translation, so as to cap said resilient lugs and move same more or less towards one another for modifying accordingly the cross-sectional passage available for the gas and therefore its output.

2. Device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tapered seat member is formed directly in the lower portion of said valve body, coaxially to said bore having its upper end adapted to be closed by a valve.

3. Device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said resilient lugs are connected at their roots to a common base and separated from one another by longitudinal slots disposed at spaced angular intervals.

4. Device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said resilient lugs have in cross-section and throughout their height the shape of a sector of an annulus and form together a cylindrical central cavity adapted to receive the upper end of said wick in order to regulate the gaseous flow by more or less throttling said wick.

5. Device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said resilient lugs have in cross-section, throughout their height, the shape of a circular sector disposed coaxially to a capillary orifice formed through the upper bottom of the bore receiving the upper end of said wick and permitting the passage of the gas escaping from said wick, whereby the gaseous output and therefore the flame of the cigarette-lighter can be adjusted by changing the conditions of flow of the gaseous fluid through the passages formed by said resilient lugs.

6. Device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said resilient lugs have in cross-section, through the major part of their height, the shape of a sector of an annulus, and at their upper portion the shape ofa circular sector in order to form a cylindrical recess which, by constituting an extension of the cavity receiving said wick, is adapted to receive the upper end of said wick and is bounded at its upper end by a shoulder consisting of the innermostportions of the circular-sector shaped portions of the resilient lugs forming at this level a passage whereby the adjustment of the gaseous output which results from the relative movements of said lugs is due on the one hand to the more or less accentuated throttling of the upper end of the wick and on the other hand to a modification in the flow conditions obtaining through said passage. 

1. Device for adjusting the flame of a gas cigarette-lighter of the type comprising a valve body screwed in a well formed at the upper portion of a gas reservoir constituting for example the body of the cigarette-lighter, in which the bottom of said well communicates with the inner space of said reservoir through a bore having, at least locally, a wick dipping in said reservoir, wherein said device comprises in combination on the one hand resilient lugs projecting from the bottom of said well and disposed concentrically and at spaced angular intervals about the axis of the bore connecting the bottom of said well to the inner space of said reservoir, and on the other hand a tapered seat member adapted to be moved longitudinally within said well by means of the valve body to which it is connected at least for translation, so as to cap said resilient lugs and move same more or less towards one another for modifying accordingly the crosssectional passage available for the gas and therefore its output.
 2. Device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tapered seat member is formed directly in the lower portion of said valve body, coaxially to said bore having its upper end adapted to be closed by a valve.
 3. Device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said resilient lugs are connected at their roots to a common base and separated from one another by longitudinal slots disposed at spaced angular intervals.
 4. Device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said resilient lugs have in cross-section and throughout their height the shape of a sector of an annulus and form together a cylindrical central cavity adapted to receive the upper end of said wick in order to regulate the gaseous flow by more or less throttling said wick.
 5. Device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said resilient lugs have in cross-section, throughout their height, the shape of a circular sector disposed coaxially to a capillary orifice formed through the upper bottom of the bore receiving the upper end of said wick and permitting the passage of the gas escaping from said wick, whereby the gaseous output and therefore the flame of the cigarette-lighter can be adjusted by changing the conditions of flow of the gaseous fluid through the passages formed by said resilient lugs.
 6. Device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said resilient lugs have in cross-section, through the major part of their height, the shape of a sector of an annulus, and at their upper portion the shape of a circular sector in order to form a cylindrical recess which, by constituting an extension of the cavity receiving said wick, is adapted to receive the upper end of said wick and is bounded at its upper end by a shoulder consisting of the innermost portions of the circular-sector shaped portions of the resilient lugs forming at this level a passage whereby the adjustment of the gaseous output which results from the relative movements of said lugs is due on the one hand to the more or less accentuated throttling of the upper end of the wick and on the other hand to a modification in the flow conditions obtaining through said passage. 